Cathy Scully, et al. v. Southern California Edison c/w Richards & Kern Helicopters, Inc. v. Southern California Edison
Published: May 11, 1996 | Result Date: Mar. 22, 1996 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: GC012736 – $4,872,100
Judge
Court
L.A. Superior Pasadena
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Robert W. Johnson CPA
(technical)
James D. Shuler
(technical)
James L. Harris
(technical)
Spencer Houghton
(technical)
Stuart Neffeler
(technical)
Defendant
James Cheatham
(technical)
Facts
On January 20, 1994, the decedent, Michael Scully, a 33-year-old civil engineer, was a passenger in an A-Star Helicopter that was owned and operated by Kern Helicopters, Inc. ("Kern"). The helicopter was being flown by Kern's employee, decedent David Richards, a 51-year-old helicopter pilot. The purpose of the flight was to conduct an aerial inspection of the Arco pipeline which runs through the Tejon Pass near Lebec, California in order to determined if there was any damage to the oil pipeline from the Northridge earthquake. During the flight, while waiting for the oil pipeline to be pressurized, a decision was made to land the helicopter at the Arco oil pump station in the Tejon Pass. While approaching to land or while landing, the helicopter struck a span of wires built, maintained and owned by the defendant, Southern California Edison. The wires were more than 200 feet above the ground and spanned approximately 2000 feet between two towers which formed a part of the Edison KR1-Gorman 66-kv power transmission line. The wire strike caused the helicoper to lose its tail section, including the tail rotor, and was observed to spin to the ground where it erupted in a ball of flame. Both men died in the crash. The plaintiffs, Scully's heirs, Richards' heirs and Kern Helicopters, Inc., brought their actions against the defendant, Southern California Edison, based on negligence theories of recovery.
Settlement Discussions
The Scully plaintiffs made a settlement demand for $750,000. The Richards plaintiffs made no settlement demands. The defendant, Southern California Edison, made no settlement offers.
Damages
The plaintiff Kern Helicopters, Inc. claimed $480,000 in property damage.
Injuries
Death of father and husband (Scully plaintiffs). Death of father and husband (Richards plaintiffs).
Other Information
The verdict was reached approximately one year and ten months after the case was filed. A settlement conference was held on January 18, 1996, before the Hon. Gabriel Gutierrez which did not resolve the matter.
Deliberation
3 days
Poll
12-0 (negligence), 9-3 (liability)
Length
19 days
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